The dynamics of T20I cricket have evolved significantly over the years, with batters now adopting a fearless approach from the very first ball. While the goal is to score quickly, this aggressive strategy doesn’t always work, especially in high-stakes tournaments like the T20 World Cup.
Some batters, however, have mastered a balanced approach, managing to score significant runs at a healthy strike rate while facing a considerable number of balls. In this article, we’ll explore the top 10 batters who have faced the most balls in T20 World Cup history.
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These players have skillfully combined patience and power to leave a lasting impact on the game. Following the list, we’ll delve into key insights and takeaways from their performances.
Top 10: Batters By Balls Faced In T20 World Cup
| Player | Country | Innings | Ball Faced |
| Virat Kohli | India | 25 | 869 |
| Mahela Jayawardene | Sri Lanka | 31 | 754 |
| Rohit Sharma | India | 36 | 753 |
| Tillakaratne Dilshan | Sri Lanka | 34 | 723 |
| Chris Gayle | West Indies | 31 | 676 |
| Kane Williamson | New Zealand | 24 | 614 |
| Shakib Al Hasan | Bangladesh | 36 | 606 |
| David Warner | Australia | 34 | 605 |
| Kumar Sangakkara | Sri Lanka | 30 | 589 |
| Jos Butler | England | 27 | 553 |
Key Insights:
500+: Beyond the top 10 batters, Martin Guptill (540), Shoaib Malik (524), and AB de Villiers (500) have each faced 500 or more deliveries in T20 World Cup history.
850: Virat Kohli holds the record for facing the most balls in T20 World Cup history, with over 850 balls faced. He is also the leading run-scorer in the tournament.
247: Virat Kohli faced 247 balls in the 2014 edition, the highest in a single T20 World Cup. Babar Azam is the only other batter to have played 240 deliveries in a single edition, achieving this in 2021.
290: Chris Gayle and Rohit Sharma are the only two batters to have faced 290 or more dot balls in T20 World Cup history.
Among batters who have faced 500+ balls, Rohit Sharma and Shakib Al Hasan have participated in every T20 World Cup since its inception in 2007.
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